Australian poachers lose hunting privileges in Idaho case

Associated Press

BOISE - Two Australian hunters termed intentional violators by Idaho game enforcement officials and who pleaded guilty to breaking hunting regulations have each been fined about $5,000, had their hunting rifles confiscated and been banned from ever hunting in the state again.

The Idaho Statesman reported Friday that Anton Kapeller, 58, and Darren Tubb, 43, of Tasmania, received the sentences in 4th District Court as part of the culmination of a nine-day sting operation that was years in the making.

"We have had information since the late 1990s from other hunters in the area that this group had been killing animals before the season and leaving meat to waste on the hill," said Idaho Fish and Game District Conservation Officer Marshall Haynes.

Another Tasmanian hunter, 18-year-old Samuel Henley, was banned from hunting in Idaho for four years and fined $2,333.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials said Kapeller hunted in Idaho for 20 years and acted as a guide. He pleaded guilty to unlawful killing of an elk, possession and transporting an unlawfully taken elk, and aiding in the take of a closed-season elk.

Tubb pleaded guilty to taking an elk during closed season, wasteful destruction of game and transferring a wolf tag. Henley pleaded guilty to taking closed-season game and aiding in the taking of closed-season game.

Officials said a bull elk was killed on Oct. 28 in Elmore County, days before the season opened.

In a news release, Fish and Game said the three were taken into custody Nov. 3 and, in an expedited process, bonded out of jail six days later.

Idaho is a member of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which includes 35 other states that honor hunting and fishing license revocations issued by other states. That means Kapeller and Tubb are banned for life from hunting in those states as well. The member states include the entire western United States.

Haynes said law enforcement officials are still investigating possible violations from previous years.

"Mr. Kapeller and his associates have made dozens of hunting trips to Idaho during the past two decades," Haynes said. "Our investigation continues, and we would very much appreciate hearing from anyone who might have information about animals killed by this group in the last few years."